Building a Brand Starts with a Story
FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency providing Content, Creative, Digital Technology, Management & Delivery, and Data & Insights services. For 30 years, we have utilized three flexible delivery models: Embedded teams, Corporate Campus operations, and a Full-Service Agency.
Managing over 37,000 events & projects annually across 110 countries, FIRST serves 130+ brands, specializing in Fortune 500 companies within the Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, Media, and Professional Services sectors. FIRST is part of the broader Encore family of companies. Encore is a global leader in event production and technology.
Consistently recognized for excellence, recent honors include 2026 Chief Marketer Agency of the Year, the Ad Net Zero Award for sustainability, and more.
Learn more at www.firstagency.com
What You Would Get To Do
The VP, Commercial Strategy & Growth, is responsible for driving our profitability through the commercial function, which includes evolving our pricing models and governance across the business.
Working closely with executive leadership, the role translates business growth objectives into actionable commercial plans, aligning Client Services, Business Development, Marketing, Finance, Operations and Data & Analytics to deliver increased margins. The VP, Commercial Strategy & Growth, leads the optimisation of pricing, deal structures, forecasting, and commercial performance across new and existing clients, while ensuring a consistent and disciplined approach to growth, retention, renewals, and new business opportunities.
The role also identifies and develops new revenue opportunities via the commercialisation of emerging solutions and capabilities and builds strategic partnerships that enhance market position. As a senior leader in a matrix environment, this role strengthens commercial capability across the organisation, champions data-driven decision-making, and ensures teams are aligned to deliver measurable commercial results.
Success in this role will depend on the ability to identify commercial opportunities, translate strategic priorities into clear execution plans, and lead cross-functional delivery through to measurable business outcomes. This is a hands-on strategy execution role, requiring someone who can move seamlessly from defining the vision to driving implementation across the organisation.
Your Contributions
Core Commercial Leadership
- Lead the development and optimisation of pricing models, deal economics, commercial terms, and remuneration frameworks that support sustainable growth and profitability.
- Partner with executive leadership to refine the go-to-market and commercial approach to drive revenue growth.
- Develop commercial plans, resource recommendations, and investment priorities aligned with business growth objectives.
- Oversee commercial governance and support negotiation of client contracts, KPIs, and commercial risk in partnership with Legal, Risk, and Compliance.
- Partner with Finance on forecasting, revenue planning, and performance monitoring.
- Drive client retention, growth, and expansion through a coordinated commercial strategy.
- Foster strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and key client decision-makers to improve alignment, impact, and long-term value.
- Drive account profitability and commercial performance across the client portfolio.
- Champion the adoption of AI-enabled commercial practices, forecasting tools, and decision-making frameworks to improve efficiency and profitability.
- Drive consistency in commercial practices, pricing approaches, and growth processes across regions while allowing for local market flexibility.
Commercial Operating Model & Cross-Functional Alignment
- Drive alignment across teams contributing to commercial outcomes, with clear accountability and decision-making.
- Ensure deals are structured, priced, negotiated, delivered, and governed consistently across the business.
- Partner closely with:
- Data & Analytics / BI to support insight-led growth decisions.
- Finance / Client Finance / FP&A to connect commercial decisions with forecasting, profitability, budgeting, and account performance.
- Operations to ensure commercial opportunities are operationally viable and scalable.
- Client Services to support growth across clients, service lines, geographies, and Encore opportunities.
- Marketing to align demand generation, market positioning, and growth priorities.
Leadership & Capability Building
- Build, develop, and lead a high-performing, commercial, client-focused team in a matrixed environment.
- Foster a performance-driven, collaborative culture focused on accountability, growth, and commercial outcomes.
- Develop future commercial leaders and strengthen capability across the broader commercial ecosystem.
- Build commercial capability across Client Services, Business Development, and other client-facing teams.
Performance Reporting & Market Insight
- Develop and maintain executive reporting and dashboards on commercial performance, revenue health, and growth opportunities.
- Use customer data, market intelligence, and competitor insight to shape growth strategy and targeting priorities.
- Convert insights into account plans, proposition development, and revenue opportunities.
- Stay informed on market trends, competitor activity, emerging technologies, and AI developments relevant to future growth.
- Monitor performance against growth targets and recommend corrective actions where required.
Strategic Sourcing
- Partner with Client Services, Operations, and Finance to identify supplier commercial opportunities that improve account profitability, client value, and commercial outcomes, excluding supplier compliance and operational management.
What We Are Looking For
- 10+ years of relevant experience
- Demonstrated ability to identify strategic commercial opportunities, develop comprehensive execution roadmaps, and lead complex cross-functional transformation initiatives from concept through implementation.
- Agency or B2B services background is preferred
- Expertise in pricing strategy, pricing model design, and commercial governance.
- Strong experience in forecasting, profitability management, and business performance reporting.
- Proven ability to build and scale commercial operating models, processes, and account management frameworks.
- Experience managing and growing large enterprise accounts and executive-level client relationships.
- Expertise in proposal management, commercial negotiations, and deal structuring.
- Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze revenue, margin, and profitability drivers.
- Experience leading transformation initiatives and driving organizational change.
- Ability to operate effectively in complex, global, and matrixed organizations.
- Advanced proficiency with CRM platforms, business intelligence/reporting tools, and AI-enabled commercial technologies.
- Exceptional stakeholder management, strategic thinking, analytical, and decision-making skills.
At FIRST, we believe that our success is driven by the passion, creativity, and commitment of our teams. That's why we offer a range of benefits and perks to support your personal and professional growth
- Medical, Dental & Vision, which includes the option of a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA)
- 401 (k)
- Five Flexible Spending Accounts Options
- Generous Paid Time Off Allowance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Life, Disability & Pet Coverages
- Wellness Stipend
- Mobile Phone Allowance
- Complimentary access to Headspace, Teladoc, Maven, Rocket Lawyer, Mobilo & more
- Aura Identity Theft Protection
- Discretionary Bonus Structure
- Global Opportunities: With a presence in 7 countries worldwide, including headquarters in London, New York, and Singapore, you may have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different locations.
United States Residents: The base pay for this position ranges from $195,102 to $224,368. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.
Please note that the national salary range listed in the job posting reflects the new-hire salary range applicable to the position across various U.S. locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
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FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If any candidate feels that they are unable to meet the requirements of the role, please get in touch to discuss adjustments or other suitable roles.
